Percy buried his head in his hands. No. No.

No.

She was gone.

Annabeth touched his shoulder gingerly as his body shook. She didn't say anything. But that was okay. Her presence was all he needed.

She was his mother.

She- she-

He gasped, and the pain just...

It wasn't like the stories say. Not anymore.

It wasn't like a knife. No, he had experienced that before.

This, this was like his insides had become rotten, and were digging their infected roots through him.

But no.

Loss can't be explained through words. Except maybe through...

Helplessness.